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Welcome to the Wines of Australia Website!
For most of us the Australian wine industry was the creation of the 1980s, as Australians on mass abruptly began to drink less beer and to develop a taste for a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon or a charming Chardonnay. Cask wines and screw top bottles, or a willingness to experiment and escape the imitation Medieval Europe look, all played their part in establishing a wine industry that could compete with the best on the international wine stage. It may be surprising to learn, however, that all this was in many ways a re-establishing of an industry that had thrived in the early years of the colonies, right through until the beginning of the 20th century in fact. Most of today’s wine regions of NSW, Victoria and South Australia can claim to have had vineyards and award winning vintages in the 1880s and 90s, not just the 1980s and 90s. Some, such as the Hunter region of NSW or Glenrowan in Victoria, have wineries that have been in continuous production since the 1860s. While changing tastes once spelled the doom for the vineyards of the past, Wines of Australia is concerned with today’s drinking fashions, ones that have brought about and continue to inspire Australia’s modern wine industry. Beginning with a desire for strong reds the Australian wine palate has gradually diversified and become much more sophisticated. Wine makers have striven to meet the ever changing demands of these new consumers and some, such as those represented here, have striven even harder to lead, to educate, and to pioneer new wines and new taste experiences. These wine makers, who range from the tiniest, family owned and run, 5 acre vineyards to the largest 500 acre companies, have not hesitated to experiment, fail and try again. Modern techniques, organic practices, traditional oak barrels imported from Europe, the shiniest stainless steel, chemicals and chemical-free; all have been tried in the effort to produce unique flavours and the best the wine world can offer. These winemakers have been so successful that for many Australians a glass of wine is not only something to drink over a fine meal, but is also a common holiday excursion. With many of the best vineyards only short drives from the capital cites, thousands of Australian’s every weekend tour the vineyards of the Hunter, Barossa and Mornington Peninsula, among others, to wine and dine at charming and often spectacularly situated cellar doors in an effort to find that unique vintage, or perhaps to impress friends at that next dinner party. At www.wine.org.au you will find the most comprehensive listing of Australian wineries and wine varieties. Just click away to find and learn about some of the over 60 wine regions of Australia. Click some more and you can find out all you need to know about every winery in that region. In addition, there are forums and bulletin boards where lovers of wine can leave a review of their favourite wine, or comment about their latest vineyard or cellar door experience. For the winemaker too, Wines of Australia can be used to contact each other, while regional discussion boards allow local wine makers to post or blog about their experiences, practices, hopes and dreams.
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